Montañés stage 5&6 recap

Beñat Urain went close to a win on the fifth stage in the Circuito Montañés yesterday. The young all-rounder ended up fourth after fading in the closing kilometres, 2:25 down on Gael Malacarne. Beñat has been riding solidly, if unspectacularly, all year, so this result will no doubt boost his morale facing the rest of the season. Adrián Sáez did not have a good day, though, and threw in the towel. Mikel Landa, Xabier Zabalo and Andoni Blázquez all rolled in with the pack, while Ricardo García felt the fatigue and came in almost half an hour down.

As for today's sixth stage, the toughest stage so far, Orbea didn't really live up to their billing as climbers as Xabier Zabalo and Mikel Landa rolled in together placed 38th and 39th respectively, both 6:34 down on the ever-impressive Niels Albert. Andoni Blázquez was 13:03 down, while Ricardo García and Beñat Urain crossed the line with the last group some 25 minutes adrift.